Hyperhidrosis Treatment in Oak Park, IL

Hyperhidrosis (diaphoresis) is a condition where sufferers sweat excessively, typically affecting the hands, feet, underarms and face, those who have to live with this condition report it as a major inconvenience and source of profound embarrassment.

When functioning normally, sweat glands in our body cause perspiration to take place in order to cool our bodies down during physically demanding activities, hot climates or as a response to stress. However those with hyperhidrosis experience this level of sweating—sometimes more—at rest. This can drench clothes, lead to discomfort, make it hard to hold jobs/relationships, even cause skin conditions.

Types of Hyperhidrosis

Primary focal hyperhidrosis is when extreme sweating is not triggered by an environmental or other trigger. This spontaneous sweeting:

Diagnosing Hyperhidrosis

The first step in diagnosing hyperhidrosis is typically a physical exam, visual or tactile inspection of the affected areas can usually give a clue to hyperhidrosis.

To confirm the suspicion of primary hyperhidrosis and to rule out secondary hyperhidrosis from something like “white coat syndrome“ (anxiety while visiting the doctor), other diagnostic tests can be performed. A sweat test using starch and iodine can reveal excess sweating by turning the affected areas blue. A paper test can measure the perspiration by placing a special paper on the suspected body part, sweat is then absorbed and the paper weighed; if the weight falls within the diagnostic parameters, a confirmation can be made.

Some Treatments for Hyperhidrosis/ Diaphoresis

Strong/prescription antiperspirants

Iontophoresis

Botox injections

Surgery

Surgery is typically used as a last resort when every other available option has failed. One surgery in particular carries severe risks. Known as ETS, endoscope thoracic sympthectomy, surgeons enter the body via the armpit, deflate a lung and set about disabling parts of your sympathetic nervous system to deactivate sweat glands. Complications can include paralysis, infection, irreversible sympathetic sweating (sweating of other parts of the body effectively rendering the surgery moot) and at least one death has been reported.

Living with hyperhidrosis/ diaphoresis can be a physically and emotionally taxing experience, but relief may be just around the corner.